The Snowden Effect, Continued

Somewhere in Colorado, Uncle Fud is oiling up the shootin' 'arn, gobbling some canned beans, sucking down some bottled water, checking out the bunker out back -- the place where his kids are stashing their porn, but he doesn't know that -- and waiting for someone to yell INCOMING!!!

Deer Trail resident, Phillip Steel, drafted the ordinance. "We do not want drones in town," said Steel. "They fly in town, they get shot down." Even though it's against the law to destroy federal property, Steel's proposed ordinance outlines weapons, ammunition, rules of engagement, techniques, and bounties for drone hunting. The ordinates states, "The Town of Deer Trail shall issue a reward of $100 to any shooter who presents a valid hunting license and the following identifiable parts of an unmanned aerial vehicle whose markings and configuration are consistent with those used on any similar craft known to be owned or operated by the United States federal government." 7NEWS Reporter Amanda Kost asked Steel, "Have you ever seen a drone flying over your town?" "No," Steel responded. "This is a very symbolic ordinance. Basically, I do not believe in the idea of a surveillance society, and I believe we are heading that way."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The "national conversation" prompted by Edward Snowden's revelations certainly has taken some eccentric turns.

The ordinance specifies that weapons used for engagement of unmanned aerial vehicles would be limited to, "any shotgun, 12 gauge or smaller, having a barrel length of 18 inches or greater." Drone hunting licenses would be issued without a background investigation, and on an anonymous basis. Applicants would have to be at least 21 years old and be able to, "read and understand English." Deer Trail, Town clerk, Kim Oldfield said, "I can see it as a benefit, monetarily speaking, because of the novelty of the ordinance." Oldfield said there's talk of promoting the ordinance as a novelty and, "Possibly hunting drones in a skeet, fun-filled festival. We're the home of the world's first rodeo, so we could home of the world's first drone hunt."

OK, making a buck off the deal is something I can understand. And, when it's all over, at least Snowden'll have some place to retire.